The 2025-2026 HDI Seminar Series is coming to a close, but those curious haven’t missed their chance to learn.
The last seminar of the series, Demystifying Autism Assessment and Diagnosis, will be held April 15 and all previous seminars from the fall and spring are accessible on HDI’s website. It’s free to attend and all prior seminars are available and archived on the website now.
“Each year, the Human Development Institute offers and hosts a seminar series with three seminars in the spring and three seminars in the fall,” Walt Bower, HDI’s Preservice Training Coordinator, said. “The HDI Seminar Series is an excellent way to learn more about a variety and a wide range of issues related to serving people with disabilities. Our seminar series provides interactive seminars on current topics relevant to people with disabilities, families and professionals.”
This year’s seminars covered a variety of topics, from dating and relationships for people with disabilities to Individualized Education Plans to accessibility in exercise. The upcoming seminar will be focused on diagnosing autism.
“The Demystifying Autism Assessment and Diagnosis seminar will highlight common pathways for autistic diagnostic assessment, initially, the importance of early diagnosis and common barriers to access will be discussed because we know that waitlists exist partly due to shortages for service providers across our state,” Bower said. “The seminar will also discuss differences between screening and diagnostic evaluation. Educational eligibility and medical diagnostic pathways will be presented in the context of recommended diagnostic practices. And we will end with listing some potential resources related to diagnostic assessment.”
It will cap off a strong series that Bower said included a fantastic lineup of experts, many of whom were current or former trainees with HDI’s LEND program. While all seminars are recorded and available to watch after the fact, Bower says it’s best to watch them live – that way, you get to be a part of the conversation.
“The HDI seminar series allows for interaction and discussion with the presenters themselves. The seminar series is open to everyone, resulting in an audience comprising people with disabilities, family members, professionals, faculty and students,” he said. “And as I mentioned previously, the seminar series offers participants a fantastic opportunity for learning more about a wide range of issues related to serving people with disabilities that allow faculty, students, professionals and the community to come together and expand their knowledge.”
And Bower hopes that knowledge will be useful to everyone at some point.
“In Kentucky, nearly 30 percent of people have a disability. If you don’t have a disability, you have friends or family who do. Disability affects us all, so the HDI seminar series is relevant to all of us,” Bower said. “I encourage folks to please share the seminar series far and wide with colleagues and friends and with anyone who might be interested in attending the HDI seminars.”
To learn more about the seminar series and register for the last one, go to hdi.uky.edu/learn/seminar-series.
